What's your minimum distance from road/trail that you find elk?

[The Harbor Master]

Year before last my buddy and I both killed our cow elk about 200yds from a MAJOR highway.

This year we shot a buck that was bedded 75yds from a dirt road that several 4wheelers drove by moments prior.

 

[wpeach1912]

Maybe 50 yards from the road when this spike was shot. He not so conveniently died in the middle of the road. Had to pull him off the road to get the truck past to go get the trailer

 

[RemcoU]

2023: 5km
2024: 2km
2025: 3km

However I prefer to chase unpressured animals so I target further areas from the roads

 

[jonnycoder]

Many of the replies helps me understand why there are still so many road hunters.

 

[Ironman8]

For you guys saying that you look for gaps in where the pressure is and you (may) find elk closer to the road. How are you determining where the pressure is? Are you mainly looking at trailheads?

As an out of state hunter, I don’t have the luxury of a lot of time surveying where camps are set up and generally just pick a spot deeper in, away from roads, and off-trail to get away from people. But if I can pick a few spots that are accessible closer to a road but away from the pressure, then that would be great to add to the game plan.

 

[High Climber]

For you guys saying that you look for gaps in where the pressure is and you (may) find elk closer to the road. How are you determining where the pressure is? Are you mainly looking at trailheads?

As an out of state hunter, I don’t have the luxury of a lot of time surveying where camps are set up and generally just pick a spot deeper in, away from roads, and off-trail to get away from people. But if I can pick a few spots that are accessible closer to a road but away from the pressure, then that would be great to add to the game plan.

Roads, Trailheads, gates, good parking areas on the side of the roads, popular well known “good” spots.. doesn’t matter if there is a trailhead there or not. Mostly takes a day or three in a new area for me to kinda figure out the jist of what’s going on and where the pressure Is at

 

[KurtR]

Many of the replies helps me understand why there are still so many road hunters.

Last two years my brother was helping a guy in the mcall unit and shot elk after hunting all day walking miles and hiking back to the truck both elk 50 yds off the road where the pick up was parked

 

[Aperventure]

Late rifle hunt this year I saw about 150-200 elk 25-50 yards from a road in plain sight in a ranchers hay field

 

[Lil-Rokslider]

My buddy from Alaska came down for a January elk hunt this year. We loaded up a side by side on a trailer, and packs and boots ready for a day of covering lots of miles. On the drive in we found a 6x6 bedded 40 yards off the road and he killed him, still wearing tennis shoes and shorts.

 

[Coveyleader]

For you guys saying that you look for gaps in where the pressure is and you (may) find elk closer to the road. How are you determining where the pressure is? Are you mainly looking at trailheads?

As an out of state hunter, I don’t have the luxury of a lot of time surveying where camps are set up and generally just pick a spot deeper in, away from roads, and off-trail to get away from people. But if I can pick a few spots that are accessible closer to a road but away from the pressure, then that would be great to add to the game plan.

I know from my experience, its all about knowing the unit. The unit I drew this year in CO the elk were right out the tent and my truck was parked next to it. I would plan to hunt back off the roads, and then adjust as you get into elk. I would not plan an out of state hunt for elk focusing on areas within 1/4 mile from a road. From my experience, elk close to roads are the exception, and not the rule. Those that are there won't be for long in most cases, but not all.